Oxygen depletion in ponds during the winter months in Iowa often leads to fish kills, especially those with shallow water depths and with small surface area. Allen Patillo, fisheries and aquaculture specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach recommends that 2% of the total surface area of the pond remain open during the winter to prevent fish kills. Also, an aeration unit in a pond can help pervent fish kills in farm ponds. These units can be agitators or diffusers, both help move and aerate the water.

For additional information about pond management or suppliers of aeration equipment, contact Pattillo at 515-294-8616 or pattillo@iastate.edu.